What started off as a concert ended as a FETE! Ebuzztt was most present at Tuesday on the Rocks’ debut on the Savannah grass on Tuesday night. The event, which has grown significantly over the years, drew a massive crowd ranging from the young to the young at heart, all there to celebrate the musical catalog of Kes the Band.
As we begin our review, we note that entering the venue seemed less strenuous than previous years as the design was more accommodating – specifically to parking and layout of food and bar. Before the event officially kicked off, patrons were entertained by the likes of Sheldon Blackman and others on a mini stage while patrons enjoyed their favourite oriental, arabian or creole finger food located near a designated eating area.
At 9pm, host JW welcomed St. Lucian soca star Teddyson John and his band The Teddyson Project to the stage. As the opening act, Teddyson – decked in white demonstrated his soulful musicality as he serenaded the crowd with his melodious hits of then and now. His set also featured Grenadian Star Skinny Banton.
The crowd was then entertained by renowned St. Lucian DJ Barrie Hype who hyped the crowd in anticipation of the headline act Kes The Band. By 10pm, with an instrumental entrance of his monster collaboration track “Stage Gone Bad” – Kees blessed the stage.
His performances were well placed and appropriately transitioned delivering favourites like “People”, Bachannal and a Millian Gyal”, “Boss Lady”, “Where Yuh From” and “Hello” while his soca comrades Sekon Sta, Nadia Batson, Terry Lyons and Patrice Lyons joined him on stage and delivered concise and well received performances.
A lover of Caribbean music, Kees dabbled in some old school dub (“Murder She Wrote”, “Too Experienced”, “Romey” and “Walk Like a Champion” – to name a few), highlighting the foundation of his musical influences and later brought on Jamaican superstar Konshens – who was definitely a favourite for the ladies. African sensation Afro B also made an appearance singing his international hit “Drogba (Joanna)”.